Objective
To observe the morphological changes and gene expression during the transdifferentiation of adult retinal pigment epith elial(RPE) cells into neuronal
phenotype in vitro induced by retrovirus and ciliary neurotrophic factor (CNTF).
Meothds
The adult RPE cells derived from CRL 2302 were infected by retrovirus with green fluoresence protein(GFP)and then were transfected further by liposome mediated CNTF expressing plasmid.The cellular ability of producing CNTG,and the expression
of CNTF, CNTF receptor (CNTFR), and signal transduction molecule janus tyrosine kinases (JAK) were detected by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay, immunohistochemical stainin gand Western blotting method.
Results
After infected by retrovirus, the configuration of adult RPE cells didnrsquo;t change much, but expressions of neurons and some glial cells markers likeneurofilament (NF) protein and glial fibraillary acidic protein (GFAP) were detected. After further transfected by CNTF expressing plasmid, RPE cells which expressed CNTF highly
and continuously had differential neurocytes; the expression of CNTFR didnrsquo;t
change, but the distribution position changed to the cell membrane; expression
of signal transduction molecule JAK increased obviously.
Conclusion
The adult RPE cells may transdifferentiate into neurons induced by retrvirus and
CNTF. The transdifferentiation may relate to CNTF-CNTFR-JAK signal transduction pathway.
(Chin J Ocul Fundus Dis, 2006, 22: 400-403)
Objective To investigate the mRNA expression of ciliary neurotrophic factor on the retina during injury and repair of optic nerves in rats. Methods Thirty-five healthy SD rats were randomly divided into 3 groups: 5 in the control group, 15 in the simply transected optic nerve group and 15 in the optic nerve-sciatic nerve anastomosis group. The simply transected and optic nerve-sciatic nerve anastomosed models were set up, and the retinal tissues of all of the rats were taken out after 3, 7 and 14 days, respectively; and the mRNA expression of CNTF in the 3 groups were observed by semiquantitative reversal transcription-polymerase chain reaction method. Results A minimum expression of CNTF mRNA was found in the retinae of the control group, and the increased rates of expression were found in the retinae of the simple transection of optic nerve group with the increase rate of 100%, 594%, and 485% on the 3rd, 7th, and 14th day respectively after the operation, while in optic nerve-sciatic nerve anastomosis group, the increase rates were found to be 258%, 752% and 515% on the 3rd, 7th, and 14th day respectively after the operation. Conclusion Retinal neurons can respond to axonal reaction of retinal ganglion cells by up-regulate endogenous CNTF after the injury of the optic nerves, which may provide a theoretic base for the application of the exogenous CNTF. (Chin J Ocul Fundus Dis，2004，20：355-357)
Objective To transplant intravenously human brain-derived neurotrophic factor (hBDNF) genemodified bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) marked with enhanced green fluorescent protein (EGFP) to injured spinal cord of adult rats, then to observe the viabil ity of the cells and the expressions of the gene in spinal cord, as well as theinfluence of neurological morphological repairing and functional reconstruction. Methods Ninety-six male SD rats weighing (250 ± 20) g were randomly divided into 4 groups: hBDNF-EGFP-BMSCs transplantation group (group A, n=24), Ad5-EGFPBMSCs transplantation group (group B, n=24), control group (group C, n=24), and sham operation group (group D, n=24). In groups A, B, and C, the spinal cord injury models were prepared according to the modified Allen method at the level of T10 segment, and after 3 days, 1 mL hBDNF-EGFP-BMSCs suspension, 1 mL Ad5-EGFP-BMSCs suspension and 1 mL 0.1 mol/L phosphate buffered sal ine (PBS) were injected into tail vein, respectively; in group D, the spinal cord was exposed without injury and injection. At 24 hours after injury and 1, 3, 5 weeks after intravenous transplantation, the structure and neurological function of rats were evaluated by the Basso-Beattie-Bresnahan (BBB) score, cortical somatosensory evoked potential (CSEP) and transmission electron microscope. The viabil ity and distribution of BMSCs in the spinal cord were observed by fluorescent inverted phase contrast microscope and the level of hBDNF protein expression in the spinal cord was observed and analyzed with Western blot. Meanwhile, the expressions of neurofilament 200 (NF-200) and synaptophysin I was analyzed with immunohi stochemistry. Results After intravenous transplantation, the neurological function was significantly improved in group A. The BBB scores and CSEP in group A were significantly higher than those in groups B and C (P lt; 0.05) at 3 and 5 weeks. The green fluorescence expressions were observed at the site of injured spinal cord in groups A and B at 1, 3, and 5 weeks. The hBDNF proteinexpression was detected after 1, 3, and 5 weeks of intravenous transplantation in group A, while it could not be detected in groups B, C, and D by Western blot. The expressions of NF-200 and synaptophysin I were ber and ber with transplanting time in groups A, B, and C. The expressions of NF-200 and synaptophysin I were best at 5 weeks, and the expressions in group A were ber than those in groups B and C (P lt; 0.05). And the expressions of NF-200 in groups A, B, and C were significantly ber than those in group D (P lt; 0.05), whereas the expressions of synaptophysin I in groups A, B, and C were significantly weaker than those in group D (P lt; 0.05). Ultramicrostructure of spinal cords in group A was almost normal. Conclusion Transplanted hBDNF-EGFP-BMSCs can survive and assemble at the injured area of spinal cord, and express hBDNF. Intravenous implantation of hBDNF-EGFP-BMSCs could promote the restoration of injured spinal cord and improve neurological functions.
Objective To observe the effects of neural stem cells(NSCs) transplantation on the glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF) and growth associated protein 43(GAP-43) after the spinal cord injury(SCI), and to investigate the mechanism of repairing the SCI by NSCs transplantation. Methods The neural stem cells from the hippocampus of rats’ embryo were cultured and identified by immunocytochemistry. The SCI model was made by the modified Allen device. Sixty adult Wistar rats were randomly divided into three groups: spinal cord injury was treated with transplantation of NSCs (group A, n=24), with DMEM solution(group B, n=24) and normal control group without being injured(group C, n=12). Seven days after the operation of SCI, the NSCs were transplanted into the injured site. Then GAP-43 and GDNF expressions were tested by RT-PCR and immunohistochemistry. Results Compared with group B, the GDNF mRNA expression of group A increased by 23.3％ on the 1st day, by 26.8% on the 3rd day and by 32.7% on the 7th day; the GAP-43 mRNA expression increased by 19.5% on the 1st day, 21.6% on the 3rd day and 23.1% on the 7th day. There were statistically significant differences(Plt;0.05). Conclusion The transplantation of NSCs can change the microenvironment injured site and promote the regeneration of axon by enhancing the expressions of GDNF mRNA and GAP-43 mRNA. It is one of the mechanisms of repairing the SCI by NSCs transplantation.
【Abstract】 Objective To construct tissue engineered skeletal muscle in vivo using glial cell derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF) genetically modified myoblast (Mb) on acellular collagen sponge with hypoglossal nerve implantation, and to observe whether structural or functional connection could be established between engineered tissue and motor nerve or not. Methods Mbs were isolated from 7 male Lewis rats at age of 2 days, cultured and genetically modified by recombinant adenovirus carrying GDNF cDNA (MbGDNF). Calf skin-derived acellular collagen sponge was used as scaffold; cell adhesion was detected by scanning electron microscope after 24 hours. Hypoglossal nerve was implanted into Mb-scaffold complex (Mb group, n=27) or MbGDNF-scaffold complex (MbGDNF group, n=27) in 54 female Lewis rats at age of 8 weeks. HE staining was performed at 1, 6, and 12 weeks postoperatively, and immunohistochemistry staining and fluorescence in situ hybridization were used. Results MbGDNF could highly expressed GDNF gene. Mb and MbGDNF could adhere to the scaffold and grew well. HE staining showed tight junctions between implant and peripheral tissue with new muscle fiber and no distinguished line at 12 weeks in 2 groups. Immunohistochemistry staining showed that positive cells of myogenin and slow skeletal myosin were detected, as well as positive cells of actylcholine receptor α1 at 1, 6, and 12 weeks. The positive cells of Y chromosome decreased with time. At 1, 6, and 12 weeks, the positive neurons were 261.0 ± 6.6, 227.3 ± 8.5, and 173.3 ± 9.1, respectively in MbGDNF group, and were 234.7 ± 5.5, 196.0 ± 13.5, and 166.7 ± 11.7, respectively in Mb group; significant differences were found between 2 groups at 1 and 6 weeks (P lt; 0.05), no significant difference at 12 weeks (P gt; 0.05). Conclusion Connection can be established between engineered tissue and implanted hypoglossal nerve. Recombinant GDNF produced by MbGDNF might play a critical role in protecting central motor neurons from apoptosis by means of retrograde transportation.
ObjectiveTo observe the morphological and functional changes of retinal degeneration in mice with CLN7 neuronal ceroid-lipofuscinosis, and the therapeutic effects of glial cell derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF) and/or ciliary neurotrophic factor (CNTF) based on neural stem cells (NSC) on mouse photoreceptor cells. MethodsA total of 100 CLN7 mice aged 14 days were randomly divided into the experimental group and the control group, with 80 and 20 mice respectively. Twenty C57BL/6J mice aged 14 days were assigned as wild-type group (WT group). Mice in control group and WT group did not receive any interventions. At 2, 4, and 6 months of age, immunohistochemical staining was conducted to examine alterations in the distribution and quantity of cones, rod-bipolar cells, and cone-bipolar cells within the retinal of mice while electroretinography (ERG) examination was utilized to record scotopic a and b-waves and photopic b-wave amplitudes. At 14 days of age, the mice in the experimental group were intravitreally injected with 2 μl of CNTF-NSC, GDNF-NSC, and a 1:1 cell mixture of CNTF-NSC and GDNF-NSC (GDNF/CNTF-NSC). Those mice were then subdivided into the CNTF-NSC group, the GDNF-NSC group, and the GDNF/CNTF-NSC group accordingly. The contralateral eyes of the mice were injected with 2 μl of control NSC without neurotrophic factor (NTF) as their own control group. At 2 and 4 months of age, the rows of photoreceptor cells in mice was observed by immunohistochemical staining while ERG was performed to record amplitudes. At 4 months of age, the differentiation of grafted NSC and the expression of NTF were observed. Statistical comparisons between the groups were performed using a two-way ANOVA. ResultsCompared with WT group, the density of cones in the peripheral region of the control group at 2, 4 and 6 months of age (F=285.10), rod-bipolar cell density in central and peripheral retina (F=823.20, 346.20), cone-bipolar cell density (F=356.30, 210.60) and the scotopic amplitude of a and b waves (F=1 911.00, 387.10) in central and peripheral retina were significantly decreased, with statistical significance (P＜0.05). At the age of 4 and 6 months, the density of retinal cone cells (F=127.30) and b-wave photopic amplitude (F=51.13) in the control group were significantly decreased, and the difference was statistically significant (P＜0.05). Immunofluorescence microscopy showed that the NSC transplanted in the experimental group preferentially differentiated into astrocytes, and stably expressed CNTF and GDNF at high levels. Comparison of retinal photoreceptor nucleus lines in different treatment subgroups of the experimental group at different ages: CNTF-NSC group, at 2 months of age: the whole, central and peripheral regions were significantly different (F=31.73, 75.06, 75.06; P＜0.05); 4 months of age: The difference between the whole area and the peripheral region was statistically significant (F=12.27, 12.27; P＜0.05). GDNF/CNTF-NSC group, 2 and 4 months of age: the whole (F=27.26, 27.26) and the peripheral area (F=16.01, 13.55) were significantly different (P＜0.05). In GDNF-NSC group, there was no statistical significance at all in the whole, central and peripheral areas at different months of age (F=0.00, 0.01, 0.02; P＞0.05). ConclusionsCLN7 neuronal ceroid-lipofuscinosis mice exhibit progressively increasing degenerative alterations in photoreceptor cells and bipolar cells with age growing, aligning with both morphological and functional observations. Intravitreal administration of stem cell-based CNTF as well as GDNF/CNTF show therapeutic potential in rescuing photoreceptor cells. Nevertheless, the combined application of GDNF/CNTF-NSC do not demonstrate the anticipated synergistic protective effect. GDNF has no therapeutic effect on the retinal morphology and function in CLN7 neuronal ceroid-lipofuscinosis mice.
Objective To investigate the possibility of constructing eukaryotic expression vector for human glial derived neurotrophic factor （hGDNF）, transfecting it to spinal cord tissue of rats so as to treat acute spinal cord injury. Methods The eukaryotic expression vector pcDNA3-hGDNF was constructed by recombinant DNA technique, transfected into glial cell and neuron of spinal cord by liposome DOTAP as experimental group. In control group, mixture of empty vector and liposome was injected. The mRNA and protein expressions of hGNDF were detected by RT-PCR and Western blot. Results After the recombinant eukaryotic expression vector for hGDNF was digested with Hind III and XbaⅠ, electrophoresis revealed 400 bp fragment for hGDNF gene and 5 400 bp fragment for pcDNA3 vector. In the transfected spinal cord tissue, the mRNA and protein expressions of hGDNF gene were detected with RT-PCR and Western blot. Conclusion The constructed eukaryotic expression vector pcDNA3hGDNF could be expressed in the transfected spinal cord tissue of rat, so it provide basis for gene therapy of acute spinal cord injury.
Objective To investigate the memory amelioration of the Alzheimer disease (AD)model rat after being transplanted the single neural stem cells(NSC) and NSC modified with human brain-derived neurotrophic factor（hBDNF） gene. Methods Forty SD rats were divided evenly into 4 groups randomly. The AD model rats were made by cutting unilaterallythe fibria fornix of male rats. Ten to twelve days after surgery, the genetically modified and unmodified NSC were implanted into the lateral cerebral ventricle of group Ⅲ and group Ⅳ respectively. Two weeks after transplantation, theamelioration of memory impairment of the rats was detected by Morris water maze. Results The average escaping latency of the group Ⅲ and group Ⅳ (41.84±21.76 s,25.23±17.06 s respectively) was shorter than that of the group Ⅱ(70.91±23.67 s) (Plt;0.01). The percentage of swimming distance inthe platform quadrant in group Ⅲ (36.9%) and in group Ⅳ(42.0%) was higherthan that in the group Ⅱ(26.0%) (Plt;0.01). More marginal and random strategies were used in group Ⅱ.The percentage of swimming distance in the platform quadrant in group Ⅳ was also greater than that in group Ⅲ(Plt;0.05). There were no significant differences in the average escaping latency, the percentage of swimming distance in the platform quadrant and the probe strategy between group Ⅳ and group Ⅰ(Pgt;0.05).More lineal and oriented strategies were used in group Ⅳ. Conclusion The behavioral amelioration of AD model rat was obtained by transplanting single NSC and hBDNF-gene-modified NSC. The effect of the NSC group modified with hBDNF gene is better than that of the groupⅢ.
ObjectiveTo investigate the effect of intravitreal injection of neural stem cells (NSC) derived from human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells (hUCMSC) on the expression of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and the number of retinal ganglion cells (RGC).
MethodsFifty-two adult male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into normal group (group A) and diabetes mellitus group which received intraperitoneal injection of streptozocin to make diabetic rat models. One month after the diabetic rat models were confirmed successfully, diabetic rats were randomly divided into diabetic group (group B), hUCMSC group (group C) and hUCMSC-induced NSC group (group D). And thirteen diabetic rats were included in each group. Immuno-cytochemistry was applied to observe BDNF and thymosin-1(Thy-1) staining in the retina. Then mean integrated absorbance of the staining region on the retina slices were analyzed by Image-Pro Plus 6.0. The number of Thy-1 labeled RGC was record.
ResultsBDNF and Thy-1 were positive on the retina slices from group A. The staining intensity from group B became weak and the expression of BDNF and Thy-1 gradually decrease with time (P < 0.05), and those from group C and group D were positively (P < 0.05), especially in group D (P < 0.05). The BDNF expression and Thy-1 labeled RGC were the same between group B and C (P > 0.05) at 2 weeks after injection, but were significant different for other time points (P < 0.05).Significant positive correlation between the expression of BDNF and the number of RGC were found by the Pearson correlation analysis (r=0.964, P < 0.05).
ConclusionIntravitreal injection of hUCMSC-derived NSC to diabetic rat may protect the retina by promoting the expression of BDNF and increasing the number of RGC.
Objective To construct expression plasmid of the fusion protein of brainderived neurotrophic factor (BDNF)green fluorescent protein (GFP), and observe its characteristics.Methods BDNF cDNA segment was inserted into plasmid pcDNA3.1/ NT-GFP-TOPO and in the same reading frame with GFP. After verified by sequencing, the BDNFGFP plasmid was transferred into cultured Schwann cells by electroporation. And the expression of BDNFGFP fusion protein was observed by immunohistochemistry and Western blotting. The neuralprotective function of the fusion protein was evaluated by transferring the plasmid into adult rat retinas with transected optic nerve.Results The sequence of BDNFGFP plasmid was verified correctly by autosequencing. The results of Western blotting showed that the BDNF-GFP fusion protein expressed a brand with the relative molecular mass of 41times;103. Seven days after the optic nerve was transected, the number of survival retinal ganglion cells (RGC) in BDNF-GFP group and GFP group was （1201plusmn;286） and（482plusmn;151）cells/mm2, respectively; and the survival rate was （51.39plusmn;12.24）% and （20.62plusmn;6.46）% , respectively. Twentyeight days after the optic nerve was transected, the number of survival RGC in the two groups was （715plusmn;71） and （112plusmn;24）cells/mm2, respectively; the survival rate was（30.59plusmn;3.04）% and (4.79plusmn;1.03）% respectively. The differences of the survival rate of RGC between the two groups were significant (t=3.144，11.378；Plt;0.01).Conclusion BDNF-GFP fusion plasmid can express a fusion protein which emit green fluorescence and has the biological activity of BDNF.
